Are You In or Out?

[Dana Kiecker]

Seems like this site is ready to tip over..

 

So here is a Poll...

[Manny Goes Boom]

I'll be optimistic

[See Red]

I'll be realistic. I said they miss the playoffs.

[RedSoxRooter]

They are not a playoff caliber team right now. They haven't been since the All Star break and there is nothing about to happen roster-wise to really change that right now.

[Manny Goes Boom]

Yeah no joke especially after the KC series...I don't care though...with stuff like this I always pick the crazy pick...

[Sox fan in Tex]

There is still a lot of baseball left to be played. As poorly as we have played lately and as much as I want to choose 'Sox miss playoffs', I believe we will find a way in for two main reasons:

 

1) We will be getting players back. As far as I have heard Clement, Foulke, Wakefield, Varitek and Nixon will all be healthy by seasons end. Wake gives us a chance to win everytime out there. Nixon (for the most part) knows how to play right field. Varitek is a huge presence on the field and is the leader of this team. I expect some quality starts from Clement. Who knows what we will get from Foulke.

 

2) The schedule will still be in our favor. We still have six games against Baltimore (three at home; three on the road), three games against KC at home, four against Toronto at home, three at Seattle and two at home against Tampa Bay. Overall, counting tonights game against Detroit we have 24 of the final 44 games at Fenway.

 

Clearly, we are a better ballclub than the month of August has shown. The Red Sox will get back to winning series' again. Keep the faith in this team. Don't write them off just yet.

[riverside sluggers]

Clement?

 

By all accounts he has been quietly shut down for the rest of the season. Tito shys away from questions about his status. Even if he does come back, I cant count on him winning a game in Pawtucket, let alone a quality start up here.

 

The favorable schedule you speak of is after their brutal stetch of playing contending playoff team one after another through early September (includes 9 game road trip)

[Sox fan in Tex]

I thought Clement was expected to come back sometime during September. I still believe he can put together atleast one or two quality starts.

 

The favorable schedule you speak of is after their brutal stetch of playing contending playoff team one after another through early September (includes 9 game road trip)

 

There is no reason for us to lose the three game series' against the White Sox and Twins at home. Splitting the four game series' at New York and at Toronto (if not taking one series) is likely. Also, our final five games are home games against Tampa Bay then Baltimore.

[a700hitter]

The only way our boys get to the playoffs is with a ticket.

[ksushi]

I think the whole season hinges on Jon Lester.

 

When wakefield comes back, if Lester can consistently go into and past the 6th inning, we have the best rotation in baseball. With enough rest, we have a good bullpen. Great defense, good hitting, and great bench depth too. Alex Cora, Kapler and Wily Mo will be huge if we make the playoffs. Hell, Wily Mo is huge now. This is a bad skid we've hit and there is a lot of baseball left to play. I still feel like the Sox can win this division but they need to play better fast. This series with the Yankees is HUGE.

 

If lester can't go deep from here on in, we will have a tired bullpen, they'll start blowing games late and there will be a lot more pressure put on the hitters and it won't work out in the long run.

[a700hitter]

I think the whole season hinges on Jon Lester.

 

When wakefield comes back, if Lester can consistently go into and past the 6th inning, we have the best rotation in baseball. With enough rest, we have a good bullpen. Great defense, good hitting, and great bench depth too. Alex Cora, Kapler and Wily Mo will be huge if we make the playoffs. Hell, Wily Mo is huge now. This is a bad skid we've hit and there is a lot of baseball left to play. I still feel like the Sox can win this division but they need to play better fast. This series with the Yankees is HUGE.

 

If lester can't go deep from here on in, we will have a tired bullpen, they'll start blowing games late and there will be a lot more pressure put on the hitters and it won't work out in the long run.

We potentially have the best rotation:

 

--if Lester can consistently go 6 or more

--if Beckett can avoid big innings and homers

--if Wells can consistently pitch like he did in his last start

--if Wakefield can come back soon and be productive.

 

There are just too many "ifs" for me. When you have that many "ifs' things don't usually work out very well. It reminds me of an old saying when somebody say "if this' and "if that" the response is "If the Queen had balls she'd be the King, and that ain't happening either."

[26 Reasons to Hate Us]

There is still a lot of baseball left to be played. As poorly as we have played lately and as much as I want to choose 'Sox miss playoffs', I believe we will find a way in for two main reasons:

 

2) The schedule will still be in our favor. We still have six games against Baltimore (three at home; three on the road), three games against KC at home, four against Toronto at home, three at Seattle and two at home against Tampa Bay. Overall, counting tonights game against Detroit we have 24 of the final 44 games at Fenway.

 

 

Keep in mind the Yankee schedule gets easier too after Aug 28th.

 

I think we will have a better idea after this weekend, but I'll be optimistic and say the Sox miss the playoffs.

[a700hitter]

Keep in mind the Yankee schedule gets easier too after Aug 28th.

 

I think we will have a better idea after this weekend, but I'll be optimistic and say the Sox miss the playoffs.

That's more realistic than optimistic.

[riverside sluggers]

I thought Clement was expected to come back sometime during September. I still believe he can put together atleast one or two quality starts.

 

 

 

There is no reason for us to lose the three game series' against the White Sox and Twins at home. Splitting the four game series' at New York and at Toronto (if not taking one series) is likely. Also, our final five games are home games against Tampa Bay then Baltimore.

 

Day off

5 game series vs New York

3 game series at Angels

3 game series at Mariners

3 game series at Athletics

4 game series vs Blue Jays

3 game series vs White Sox

 

That is not a favorable schedule for the near future, everyone has to step up in big ways. Oh and with Wake expected to return on the 27th... Jason Johnson will stay in the rotation for 2 more starts

[ksushi]

Everything is an if when you're talking about the something that hasn't happened yet. You can't name a team in baseball that doesn't have ifs. I had ifs in my post. I acknowledge that if the team plays like it has been Schilling will be playing golf by the time the ALDS is played. But, things can turn around. Rough patches are rough patches and it will get better, maybe not enough to make the playoffs, maybe enough to go all the way. Who knows. I'm not writing them off just yet. 700, you've written them off since day one so its really no surprise you're the first one to grab a shovel and start digging a grave for them. But hey, im used to it by now.

[riverside sluggers]

I thought Clement was expected to come back sometime during September. I still believe he can put together atleast one or two quality starts.

 

Trust me you wouldve been hearing up to date info if Clement was set to come back next month, we're hearing crickets for a reason. The Sox are looking forward to a September rotation of:

 

Schilling

Wakefield

Beckett

Wells

Lester

 

Clement has proven nothing that the Sox can rely on him. His frown/disgusting slow pace when there are runners on; his 2nd half implosions; and ah yes his memorable playoff start (worst ever for a Sox pitcher in that round)

[MC Hammer]

When this team wins the division are all you quitters going to admitt you were wrong?

[greenwell39]

I am an optimist until the last pitch is thrown...I keep it positive to support the team I have always loved! Let's get behind our team with some GOOD thoughts, not all the bitching and complaining that so many seem to do!

[MC Hammer]

I am an optimist until the last pitch is thrown...I keep it positive to support the team I have always loved! Let's get behind our team with some GOOD thoughts, not all the bitching and complaining that so many seem to do!

Thank you. I believe we only have a handful of people left that think we have a chance.

[a700hitter]

When this team wins the division are all you quitters going to admitt you were wrong?

Gladly

[See Red]

When this team wins the division are all you quitters going to admitt you were wrong?

 

Would you bet money on the Red Sox making the playoffs? It's not quitting, it's being realistic. I don't think this team is going to make the playoffs -- the question was meant to be answered with homerism aside. Doesn't mean I'm not going to watch every game I can and follow the team as I otherwise would.

[a700hitter]

Everything is an if when you're talking about the something that hasn't happened yet. You can't name a team in baseball that doesn't have ifs. I had ifs in my post. I acknowledge that if the team plays like it has been Schilling will be playing golf by the time the ALDS is played. But, things can turn around. Rough patches are rough patches and it will get better, maybe not enough to make the playoffs, maybe enough to go all the way. Who knows. I'm not writing them off just yet. 700, you've written them off since day one so its really no surprise you're the first one to grab a shovel and start digging a grave for them. But hey, im used to it by now.

I haven't written them off since day one. I have been critical of this front office since the off-season, because they made a series of moves and non-moves that I disagreed with. I also think that there was chaos caused by the Theo's hissy fit and the FO power struggle. There's no neede to reiterate those disagreements. Just because I disagree with the FO job this year doesn't mean that I had written the team off from the beginning. That's just not true. However, when it came to crunch time and our boys needed reinforcements, the FO turned its back on this 2006 group and that's unfortunate. I didn't write them off my friend. The FO has clearly written them off.

[Teddyballgame10]

They are still in it, they are just going threw a touch stretch where nothing is clicking. ..maybe tito even has to get thrown out of a game i dont know. The yankees were back 3 games at one point too remember? They just are slumping its way to early to quite.

[SoxFan02]

Their entire season hinges on the Yankees sieres if they win the sieres they still have a chance if they loose they have a snowballs chance in hell

[ksushi]

Alright 700, how about this: IF the sox don't win the division, I will dedicate a thread to how wrong I was and why my niave optimism about all things Red Sox is an inferior stupid way to look at the sox and you're much better etc. etc.

 

If they do win the division, I change your user title to QUITTER and you admit you're qutting ways in a thread entitled "Why I am a filthy yellowbelly scoundrel who has no faith" It'll be a nice roast and I'll tell my famous version of the aristocrat joke where you go into a talent office... but I'll save that.

 

If you can think of a clever title for me, ill gladly change mine should they lose.

[a700hitter]

Alright 700, how about this: IF the sox don't win the division, I will dedicate a thread to how wrong I was and why my niave optimism about all things Red Sox is an inferior stupid way to look at the sox and you're much better etc. etc.

 

If they do win the division, I change your user title to QUITTER and you admit you're qutting ways in a thread entitled "Why I am a filthy yellowbelly scoundrel who has no faith" It'll be a nice roast and I'll tell my famous version of the aristocrat joke where you go into a talent office... but I'll save that.

 

If you can think of a clever title for me, ill gladly change mine should they lose.

I'll gladly admit that I was wrong. I tend to be a pessimist if you haven't noticed. I won't admit that I quit, because if I quit, I wouldn't be watching every game like a demented fool, and I won't change my user title, but I will gladly admit that I was wrong.

[MC Hammer]

Would you bet money on the Red Sox making the playoffs? It's not quitting, it's being realistic. I don't think this team is going to make the playoffs -- the question was meant to be answered with homerism aside. Doesn't mean I'm not going to watch every game I can and follow the team as I otherwise would.

It's not about "homerism". Homerism would be saying "WE'RE GONNA WIN OUT AND SWEEP THE PLAYOFFS CAUSE WE'RE THE BEST!!!!!".

 

I'm just not willing to quit ... like yourself. I'm talking about the people on this board who jumped off 2 weeks ago, and said we won't make the playoffs.

[Cocos Disciples]

I sense a lack of confidence in RSN, as the majority of voters say we will miss the playoffs all together. Based on this, and this alone, I say...out.

[Pesky]

I think they'll make it, some how. There is plenty of ball left, and they are just 2 games out of the East and WC. They'll get healthy, and start pitching better.

 

It just can't get worse than it has been. I think they will go on a roll soon.

 

Plus, I still have faith in the pen and the rotation. I think they'll straighten it out.

 

But there is no way in hell they win the WS. Their pitching can't ever be that good.

[Soxfan1]

Someone should bump the thread which was asking if we lost the faith after losing three games to the yanks. After that, i believe we can do something and make the playoffs, whether it is through the divison or w.c.